By Elesha George
The High Court has deferred the sentencing of 24-year-old Brittany Jno-Baptiste, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2021 death of 66-year-old Wendy Jane Finch. The sentencing was delayed to April 1, 2025 to allow for additional psychological assessments of the accused.
Initially charged with murder, Jno-Baptiste’s plea was reduced to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility—a defence rarely invoked in Antigua and Barbuda. Her attorney, Wendel Alexander, noted the uniqueness of the case, stating, “This is a case that has become a cause célèbre. It is unique in nature.”
Presiding Judge Justice Tunde Bakre noted that he had only recently received the social impact report and the brief from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He noted that the DPP referred to the social inquiry as “superficial” and observed that the existing report evaluates Jno-Baptiste’s mental state post-crime but lacks information on her current condition. Additionally, Justice Bakre mentioned that his chambers are aware of comments from Finch’s family alleging that Jno-Baptiste has had access to marijuana while incarcerated.
Acting DPP Shannon Jones-Gittens expressed similar concerns, emphasizing the need to investigate the allegations of drug use and to obtain an up-to-date psychiatric evaluation to inform sentencing. She also noted that arrangements for siblings of Finch to deliver an impact statement were not facilitated during the morning session. Jones-Gittens estimated that it would take approximately three weeks for a government psychiatrist to complete the necessary report.
Defence attorney Wendel Alexander concurred with the conditions set by the judge and the prosecution, acknowledging that he had not yet analysed the victim impact report. He also agreed that the social inquiry report lacked depth. He remarked, “We have to depend on precedence … in order to come up with the right sentencing fit.”
Judge Bakre suggested that an official from His Majesty’s Prison be called to testify regarding the potential entry of drugs into the facility, accessible to Jno-Baptiste, if Alexander sees it as useful. In response, Alexander commented, “Everything you can get out here in the free world, you can get in there,” yet he remained reluctant to exercise that option.
The case stems from an incident on October 4, 2021, when Jno-Baptiste fatally attacked Finch in her Piccadilly home after being denied a request to use Finch’s phone. Jno-Baptiste, who was reportedly under the influence of marijuana at the time, claimed she was “not in [her] right head” and experiencing hallucinations of “ghosts and jumbies”. A 2022 evaluation by clinical and forensic psychologist Dr James King diagnosed her with cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, contributing to the court’s acceptance of her diminished responsibility defence.
The court anticipates that the pending psychiatric evaluation and drug testing will provide a comprehensive understanding of Jno-Baptiste’s current mental state and will allow the judge to make an appropriate sentencing decision.
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